Device for modifying the path of a continuous rod as manufactured by a machine such as a cigarette-making machine

ABSTRACT

In a device for modifying the path of a continuous rod which is manufactured by a machine such as a cigarette-making machine comprising means for diverting said rod and cutting means, the provision of cutting means adapted to cut the rod, the latter being either in the diverted or nondiverted position, for instance a rotary drum which carries on its periphery a plurality of blades having opposite cutting edges.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Raymond Poupin Fleury-les-Aubrais,France [2| Appl. No. 880,469

I 22] Filed Dec. 8, 1969 I 45 l Patented Jan. 4, 1972 l 7 3 AuxignceService dExploltetlon lnduetrlelle des Tlblfl et des Allumettea Paris,France [32] Priority June 27,1966

[3 3] France Continuation of application Ser. No. 648,304, June 23,1967. This application Dec. 8, 1969, Ser. No. 880,469

[54] DEVICE FOR MODIFYING THE PATH OF A CONTINUOUS ROD AS MANUFACTUREDBY A MACHINE SUCH AS A CIGARETTE-MAKING MACHINE 13 Claims, 5 DrawingFigs.

[52] US. Cl 83/106,

83/60, 83/150, 83/593, 131/65, 146/101, 146/DIG. 1

[51] 1nt.Cl B26d 7/06 [50] Field ofSearch 83/60, 80, 106, 163, 371, 372,105, 593, 150; 131/63, 64, 65,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,444,306 6/1948 Molins131/60 3,244,050 4/1966 Pym 131/60 X 3,526,232 9/1970 Dearsley 146/101 XPrimary ExaminerAndrew R. Juhasz Assistant ExaminerJames F. CoanABSTRACT: In a device for modifying the path of a continuous rod whichis manufactured by a machine such as a cigarette-making machinecomprising means for diverting said rod and cutting means, the provisionof cutting means adapted to cut the rod, the latter being either in thediverted or nondiverted position, for instance a rotary drum whichcarries on its periphery a plurality of blades having opposite cuttingedges.

PATENTED JAN 41872 SHEET 2 BF 4 fig 2 Vanna PATENTEDJAM M972 3.631.749

SHEET 3 OF 4 mama; m 4:372 3.631; 749

SHEET t [If 4 Fig.5

'1 v ENTOR R z.\.\mo A Hage 3 1 e f arrow ATTORNY5 DEVICE FOR MODIFYINGTI'IE PATI-I OI" A CONTINUOUS ROD AS MANUFACTURED BY A MACHINE SUCH AS ACIGARETTE-MAKING MACHINE This application is a continuation of thecopending application Ser. No. 648,304 filed on June 23, 1967.

The present invention relates to a device for modifying the path of acontinuous rod which is manufactured by a machine such as acigarette-making machine.

When the production of a machine of this type stops under normalconditions, the front or upstream end of the rod remains engaged in theducts of the different sections which precede the cutting units andcigarettes come to a standstill within the guides which are locateddownstream of said units.

Under these conditions, if it is endeavored to put the forming machineback into service, that portion of the rod which is not sealed withpaste as a result of drying of the pasting disc during stoppageaccordingly opens and stops inside the ducts referred to above, thusgiving rise to a fault condition known as rod obstruction" or cloggingwhich results in a further stoppage of production. At this moment, thesection of rod and the cigarettes which are at a standstill in thedifierent guides located either upstream or downstream of the cuttingunit constitute plugs and the removal of such plugs usually proves adifficult operation.

It is apparent from the foregoing that restarting of a forming machineis facilitated if the zone of tobacco rod which comprises the nonpastedportion is removed at the time of startup.

The device according to the invention therefore makes it possible on theone hand to break the cigarette rod upstream of the cutting unit andthen to deflect the newly formed rod towards a wastebox, this operationbeing carried out automatically at the time of stoppage of the formingmachine and while this latter is in process of slowing down and, on theother hand, starting from the previous position, to break the cigaretterod downstream of the drying iron in order that the newly formed rod canpenetrate into the cutting unit, this operation being performedautomatically during startup of the machine and, lastly by way ofaddition, to permit the sampling of desired lengths of rod during normaloperation of the machine.

It has already been proposed, in particular in machines formanufacturing filter rods, to provide devices comprising means fordeflecting or diverting the rod of tobacco and cutting means. But inthese known devices, the cutting means are so designed that they cannotcut the rod in the normal position, namely in the nondiverted position.Consequently, such devices can only come into action at the time ofstartup of the machine which is making said rod.

The device in accordance with this invention which makes it possible toproduce action both at the time of startup and during operation ischaracterized in that the cutting means are adapted to cut the rod, thelatter being either in the diverted or nondiverted position.

The cutting means can comprise two separate elements which are mountedso as to produce action respectively on the nondiverted rod and on thediverted rod and, in a particular form of construction, said means areconstituted by two separate portions of the diverting member ordeflector itself, for example by the two opposite edges of a rotatablymounted member.

In order to reduce the time of response of the cutting and divertingmembers, it is an advantage to mount a plurality of Furthercharacteristics of the invention will become apparent from thedescription which now follows, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawings which show one example of execution, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in isometric perspective showing the device as a whole;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the rotary blade-drum looking in the directionof the arrow f, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drum of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line lVIV of FIG.3, and

FIG. 5 is a diagram of the electrical control circuit.

The drum 2 which is adapted to move about the axis I is provided at itsperiphery with five suitably curved blades 3 so disposed as to intersectthe path of the cigarette rod 4.

During one revolution of the drum in the direction of the arrowfz, eachblade takes up successively l0 stable positions which are geometricallydefined. Transition of the blade from one position to the next takesplace at very high speed.

When a blade 3 takes up position 30, the following blade is located at3b; the rod 4 can then penetrate freely into the different guides bywhich it is conveyed to the cutting unit since there is nothing tomodify its path. The blades are located in this position when themachine is producing cigarettes in the normal manner.

When a blade moves rapidly from position 3b to position. 30, the leadingedge 5 of said blade which is chamfered and carries out a shearingaction accordingly strikes the rod 4 and breaks this latter. The bladethen shuts off the entrance to the cutting unit and deflects any newlyformed rod towards a wastebox. The blades take up this new positionduring the transient phase of slowing down of the forming machine andremain in that position until the machine is started up again.

Should the blade then leave position 30 to come into position 3a, thedeflected rod is thus abruptly displaced fromits path and broken at thelevel of the trailing edge 6 against the stationary plate 35, the planeof which is substantially parallel to the edge 6 at the moment at whichthe blade crosses the path of the rod 4; the front or upstream end ofthe rod which is newly formed then engages within the guide members ofthe cutting unit and the machine is thenproducing cigarettes once again.

The electromagnetic clutch 7 (as shown in FIG. 1) makes it possible inthe excited state to drive the worm 8 of the reduction-gear unit 9 froma shaft 10 of the general controls of the forming machine. Chain drivesystems 11- provide intermediate connections.

The gearwheel 12 of the reduction-gear unit 9 is adapted to rotatefreely on the shaft 1 which is secured to the casing 13. Said gearwheelis rigidly fixed to the splined ring 14 and the coupling sleeve 15 whichdrives the inner cage of the flexibleblock 16. The outer cage of theflexible block 16 drives the drum 2 which carries the blades 3.

The drum 2, which is rotatably mounted on two rollerbearings 17 and 18,is adapted to carry a ring 19in which are formed internal grooves. Thelocking-bolt 20 whose pin 21 is pivotally mounted in the casing 13 iscapable of penetrating into the grooves of the rings 14 or 19. The lever22;whichis actuated by the locking-bolt 20 is adapted to control themicroswitch 24 by means of the push-rod 23.

When the cigarette-making machine is in a stable state, whether saidmachine is at a standstill or producing cigarettes at the normal rate,the drum 2 occupies one of the 10 positions which were defined earlier.Under these conditions, the torsion of the block 16 is zero and themembers 14, 19 and 20 re disposed as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the groovesof rings l4and l9 correspond and the spring of the microswitch 24produces action on the push-rod 23 in the direction f so as to maintainthe locking-bolt 20 within a groove of the ring19.

Furthermore, except for the relay 25 which is controlled by theauxiliary contact 26 so that said relay 25 is closed at the same time asthe contactor of the general controls of the forming machine, thedifferent components of the electric control.

system are in the position shown in FIG. 5.

It will now be assumed, for example, that the machine which wasinitially in service stops producing cigarettes.

As soon as the main motor is caused to stop, the contact 26 opens therelay 25 which is supplied with current through the general contacts 34.The capacitor 27 which has previously been charged through the resistor28 discharges into the coil of relay 29 which changes over to theoperating position, thereby permitting the excitation of the clutch unit7. The worm 8 effects the drive in the direction f, of the gearwheel 12,the grooved ring 14, the sleeve and the inner cage of the block 16. Thelocking-bolt locks the outer cage of the flexible block 16in position bymeans of the members 19 and 2 and said block is thus subjected totorsion.

During this torsion, the force which is exerted by the ring 19 on thelower end of the locking-bolt 20 produces a torque which tends to causethis latter to pivot on its pin 21 in order that it should escape fromthe groove of the ring 19. However, this releasing action can take placeonly when a groove of the ring 14 reaches the level of the upper end ofthe locking-bolt 20.

At this moment, the angle of torsion of the block 16 attains thepreselected value, the bolt penetrates into the groove 14b of the ring14 and thus locks said ring in position while releasing the outer ring19. The block 16 is suddenly released and rapidly drives in thedirection of the arrow f, the drum which carries the blades 3.

During this movement, the microswitch 24 initiates the closure of therelay 30, one reversing pole of which opens the circuit of the relay 29and rapidly completes the discharge of the capacitor 27 through thelow-value resistor 31. The opening of relay 29 interrupts the excitationof the clutch unit 7.

When the block 16 is in the released condition, the grooves of the rings14 and 19 again correspond and the locking-bolt 20 is permitted to fallback into the groove 19b of the ring 19 under the action of the springof the microswitch 24.

The assembly of components which are coupled to the drum has rotated byone step in the directionfz, thereby bringing a blade 3 into therod-deflecting position.

Assuming now that the forming machine is put back into service, it willaccordingly be noted that the capacitor 32 which has previously beencharged through the resistor 28 is caused to discharge into the coil ofrelay 29 as soon as the relay closes, and that the difi'erentelectromechanical control operations are performed as indicated earlier.The drum again performs one rotational step in the direction of thearrow f in order to break the rod of tobacco and to permit theintroduction of the rod into the guides of the cutting unit.

The switch 33 serves to control the breaking device without stopping thegeneral controls of the forming machine. In fact, the opening of theswitch 33 during operation of the machine interrupts the supply ofcurrent to the relay 25; the capacitor 27 discharges into the coil ofthe clutch relay 29, the drum 2 rotates by one step and a blade 3 comesinto the rod-deflecting position. The formed rod is then directedtowards the wastebox.

In order to resume manufacture, it is merely necessary to close theswitch 33, whereupon the relay 25 changes over to the operatingposition, the capacitor 32 discharges into the coil of the clutch unit29 and the drum again rotates by one step. The rod of tobacco can thenpenetrate into the cutting section and cigarettes can be produced by themachine in the normal manner.

The possibility of control which has just been described offers anadvantage in that the rod-breaker can be employed for the purpose oftaking samples of tobacco as the formed cigarettes are delivered fromthe machine.

. What is claimed is 1.,A device for diverting and cutting a tobacco rodissuing from a continuous rod-making machine and traveling lengthwise ina substantially linear path across a gap to a rodreceiving member whensaid machine is operating correctly, said device comprising a movabledeflector element mounted for movement between an operative and aninoperative position and which, in its inoperative position, is asidethe path of the continuous rod, and in the operative positron, ISathwart said path to intercept and deflect the continuous rod, and meansfor transversely severing the continuous rod adapted to sever said rodwhen said deflector element is moving from its inoperative position toits operative position.

2. A device according to claim I, further comprising means mountedupstream of said deflector element and adapted to sever said rod whendeflected by said deflector element.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said deflector mechanism is aunitary member and said means for severing the continuous rod whendeflector element is moving from its inoperative position to itsoperative position and said means mounted upstream of said deflectorelement are parts of said unitary member.

4. A device for diverting and cutting a rod issuing from a tobaccocontinuous rod-making machine and traveling lengthwise in asubstantially linear path across a gap to a rodreceiving member whensaid machine is operating correctly, said device comprising means havinga first part for diverting said rod from said linear path, and a secondpart for transversely cutting said rod in the diverted position and athird part transversely cutting said rod in the nondiverted position.

5. A device for diverting and cutting a rod issuing from a continuousrod-making machine and traveling lengthwise in a substantially linearpath across a gap to a rod-receiving member when said machine isoperating correctly, said device comprising one single member having afirst part for diverting said rod from said linear path, a second partfor cutting said rod in the diverted position and a third part cuttingsaid rod in the nondiverted position.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said first part is arrangedbetween said second part and said third part.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said member is rotatablymounted on an axis substantially parallel with said linear path, saidmember being rotatably arranged on said axis, and wherein said membercomprises at least one deflecting piece having a front cutting edge anda rear cutting edge, said deflecting piece crossing said path of saidrod when said member is rotated around said axis.

8. A device according to claim '7, wherein said member constitutes adrum, said drum carrying a plurality of blades on the periphery thereof,said blades having front and rear cutting edges.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said drum comprises an innerring having external grooves thereon, a driving unit rotatably drivingsaid inner ring, an outer ring having as many internal grooves thereonas said inner ring has external grooves, said outer ring beingconcentrically arranged with respect to said inner ring, said outer ringcarrying said blades, an elastic means pivotally coupling said outerring with said inner ring, and a pivoting locking-bolt engaging one ofsaid grooves of said outer ring, said locking-bolt adapted to pivot andto be released upon said inner ring having rotated through an anglecorresponding to the distance between two adjacent grooves on said innerring.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said driving unit comprisesan electromagnetic clutch connected with said control means of saidmachine.

11. A device according to claim 9, wherein said pivoting locking-boltcomprises first means for engaging said grooves of said inner ring, andsecond means for stopping said inner ring upon said first means engagingone of said grooves of said inner ring.

12. A device according to claim 11, and comprising third means fordetecting said engagement and fourth means controlled by said thirdmeans for interrupting the electric circuit of said driving unit of saidinner ring.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein said third means comprises amicroswitch and a capacitor, said microswitch controlling saidcapacitor.

1. A device for diverting and cutting a tobacco rod issuing from acontinuous rod-making machine and traveling lengthwise in asubstantially linear path across a gap to a rod-receiving member whensaid machine is operating correctly, said device comprising a movabledeflector element mounted for movement between an operative and aninoperative position and which, in its inoperative position, is asidethe path of the continuous rod, and in the operative position, isathwart said path to intercept and deflect the continuous rod, and meansfor transversely severing the continuous rod adapted to sever said rodwhen said deflector element is moving from its inoperative position toits operative position.
 2. A device according to claim 1, furthercomprising means mounted upstream of said deflector element and adaptedto sever said rod when deflected by said deflector element.
 3. A deviceaccording to claim 2 wherein said deflector mechanism is a unitarymember and said means for severing the continuous rod when deflectorelement is moving from its inoperative position to its operativeposition and said means mounted upstream of said deflector element areparts of said unitary member.
 4. A device for diverting and cutting arod issuing from a tobacco continuous rod-making machine and travelinglengthwise in a substantially linear path across a gap to arod-receiving member when said machine is operating correctly, saiddevice comprising means having a first part for diverting said rod fromsaid linear path, a second part for transversely cutting said rod in thediverted position and a third part transversely cutting said rod in thenondiverted position.
 5. A device for diverting and cutting a rodissuing from a continuous rod-making machine and traveling lengthwise ina substantially linear path across a gap to a rod-receiving member whensaid machine is operating correctly, said device comprising one singlemember having a first part for diverting said rod from said linear path,a second part for cutting said rod in the diverted position and a thirdpart cutting said rod in the nondiverted position.
 6. A device accordingto claim 5, wherein said first part is arranged between said second partand said third part.
 7. A device according to claim 6, wherein saidmember is rotatably mounted on an axis substantially parallel with saidlinear path, said member being rotatably arranged on said axis, andwherein said member comprises at least one deflecting piece having afront cutting edge and a rear cutting edge, said deflecting piececrossing said path of said rod when said member is rotated around saidaxis.
 8. A device According to claim 7, wherein said member constitutesa drum, said drum carrying a plurality of blades on the peripherythereof, said blades having front and rear cutting edges.
 9. A deviceaccording to claim 8, wherein said drum comprises an inner ring havingexternal grooves thereon, a driving unit rotatably driving said innerring, an outer ring having as many internal grooves thereon as saidinner ring has external grooves, said outer ring being concentricallyarranged with respect to said inner ring, said outer ring carrying saidblades, an elastic means pivotally coupling said outer ring with saidinner ring, and a pivoting locking-bolt engaging one of said grooves ofsaid outer ring, said locking-bolt adapted to pivot and to be releasedupon said inner ring having rotated through an angle corresponding tothe distance between two adjacent grooves on said inner ring.
 10. Adevice according to claim 9, wherein said driving unit comprises anelectromagnetic clutch connected with said control means of saidmachine.
 11. A device according to claim 9, wherein said pivotinglocking-bolt comprises first means for engaging said grooves of saidinner ring, and second means for stopping said inner ring upon saidfirst means engaging one of said grooves of said inner ring.
 12. Adevice according to claim 11, and comprising third means for detectingsaid engagement and fourth means controlled by said third means forinterrupting the electric circuit of said driving unit of said innerring.
 13. A device according to claim 12, wherein said third meanscomprises a microswitch and a capacitor, said microswitch controllingsaid capacitor.